Day of the Daleks (1/1/72 – 22/1/72)
After Terry Nation failed to get the Daleks started in their own spinoff, they finally returned to Dr Who after an absence of almost 5 years. By which time the colour Pertwee era had made a big impact, and after a ratings lull which dropped to around 6 million in 1969, boosted them back up to around 8 million; and would hit an average of 9 million by the end of the Pertwee era.
It’s well known now that the Daleks were shoehorned in to Louis Marks’ story, in which Ogrons were demoted from being the conquerors using time technology, to being ape-like numbskulls, subservient to the Daleks.
The story’s time travel theme is nicely prologued in an accidental side-effect of the Doctor’s Tardis tinkerings, and before long, viewers are whisked off to the atmospheric setting of Auderly House; to investigate some strange events.
We are given a glimpse into an as yet unknown future, where Aubrey Woods makes an immediate impression as the Controller; who we also find is subservient to the Daleks, as the plot is gradually revealed.
Soon enough, both Jo and the Doctor are separately transported to this future by accidental, and we learn much more about how this future world is organised. This is where the script and the acting comes into its own; in some powerfully worded scenes between the Doctor and the Controller. At the same time we meet some the other characters lower down the power structure, as well other members of the resistance cell, before the Doctor is captured by the Daleks.
By the last episode, this story is really cooking, as the full plans of rebels are revealed after they rescue the Doctor, who works out the consequences of the their plans. The rescue of the Doctor brings a powerful moment when he convinces the leader of the guerrillas not to murder the Controller. And again when the tables are turned, as the Controller allows the Doctor and co to escape. The Doctor’s temporal paradox revelation is another of the great moments of this story.
The Daleks work out their response and attack Auderly House in the 20th century, but in the end of course, it’s Shura that saves the day, so to speak.
Day of the Daleks is an excellent return story for the pepperpots. It boasts a robust ensemble cast, and some super acting, with notably standout performances from Pertwee, Aubrey Woods, and Anna Barry. The writing is excellent, and the plot is tightly paced; perfectly suiting this 4 episode story length. The time paradox is a fascinating theme, and the events and characters in the 22nd century future are very convincingly realised.
And what about the Daleks themselves in all this? Well, this a terrific story, but it’s not a terrific Dalek story. The piss-poor enunciation of the voices have a lot to do with it. (And I always snigger at the line: ‘DOCTOR? DID YOU SAY… DOCTOR?’ 
Then there’s the infamous attack on Auderly House, where 3 Daleks move from place to place in between shots, whilst the Ogrons look like they’ve taken the dog out for a piss. Of course, I didn’t notice any of this when I was 8 going on 9. It was just tremendously exciting stuff in 1972.
But the Daleks don’t feel THAT shoehorned in. I think they actually fit in very well with this story’s ideas. And in that lovely pre-Davros era, the Daleks are as they should be. A force in their own right, with a galactic empire that they wish to expand by conquering, subjugating and destroying all inferior life-forms.
This is the first time I’ve watched this story since it was released on dvd, and it’s been a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I give it 8.5/10.
Meanwhile in comic world, the 3rd Doctor strips began in the relatively short lived TV Century 21 follow ups: Countdown and TV Action, in 1971, before reverting back to the rival mainstay; TV Comic in 1974.
The Daleks first appearance was in TV Action on January 8th 1972, just one week after the start of Day of the Daleks on tv, in strip called Sub-Zero. This strip ran until February 26th, and the following week, it segued into a strip, ironically called: The Planet of the Daleks, on March 4th 1972.
Although this was nothing to do with the following year’s tv story; it does, in the words of Barry Norman; ‘bring me rather neatly I thought’, to that next Pertwee Dalek adventure on tv.
But first; those 1972 comic strips.
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